Warm encouragement to value the natural world for more than its tangible offerings.
A young South Asian girl learns to appreciate every aspect of her family’s mango tree.
Farah loves mangos so much that she dreams about living in one. Her grandfather has a mango tree in his yard, and she collects them with him and with their dog, Mali. Much to Farah’s dismay, one year, the tree does not fruit. When Farah asks Grandpa why there are no mangos, he is too busy to answer. Farah tries to help by giving the tree milk, water, and manure. When nothing works, Farah announces that without fruit, the tree is useless. Then she realizes that Grandpa was so busy because he was building her a swing. When Farah swings up into the tree’s canopy, she finds a world of wonder beyond her imagination and discovers that trees are more than just their fruit. Full of movement, emotion, humor, and details, the cartoonish illustrations depict the monkeys, birds, and other creatures that make their homes in the tree and push the story beyond the words. The plot is a bit disjointed, however. Farah never learns why the tree hasn’t flowered, and readers may wonder why Farah now seems entirely uninterested in mangos. Still, the book’s playful tone makes it a pleasure to read. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Warm encouragement to value the natural world for more than its tangible offerings. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 9781838741365
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...
The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.
Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
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